Cove reflector



Sept. 15, 1925. 7 1,553,566,

J. L. STAIR cbvrs REFLECTOR Filed Jun 1922 Patented Sept. 15, 1925. 1'7

UNITED STATES PATENTTOFFICE.

- JERRY L. STAIR, or CHICAGO, ILLIIvoIs.

oovn REFLECTOR.

Application filed .Tune 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JERRY'L. STAIR, a

tors for lighting fixtures for indirect illumination, and .is more particularly concerned with such fixtures adapted for "the diffusion of light from concealed sources.

More specifically stated, the invention has 'to do with cove reflectors or those located in recesses, niches, or the like formed in walls, and especially in cornices thereof, by which the light is projected in av highly diffused manner within the room or simila enclosure without, visibility of the illuminating units, and theresultantglareiincident to such visibility; The, advantages flowing from.indirectl illumination generally are recognized, particularly in auditoriums, theaters, and similar places for public gatherings, and the value of such illumination is indicated by the numerous installations of this character which are, constantly being effected. The invention aims to. promote and extend these installations.

The invention likewise has in view the production ofa novel form of cove reflector which is soconstructedas to breakup effectually the light rays emanating from the lighting units, whereby'the surface illuminated will be wholly free from streaks or images and a more. even diffusion of the light attained.

Furthermore, the invention seeks'to pro vide a reflector such as referred to which is of a unitary character, thereby enabling ready aligning and assembly of ajplurality of the same in any required number to provide for varying lengths of continuous re-.

fleeting surfaces. The invention, therefore, adapts itself .to easy and convenient installation in varying lengths of recesses.

'Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the ac- 922. serial No. 565,402.

companying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims. Fig- 1 is a front elevation of a cove reflector embodying the hereindescribed invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, as on the line 33, Fig. 2. .7 Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 designates the body of the hereindescribed reflector. Pref erablythis is formed of glass the exterior of which is silvered to impart the required refleeting qualities thereto, and this reflecting backing, in turn, is covered with a layer of opaque material so that the result ant reflector is of the silver mirrored type. Thelatter is known in'the art.- 1 A It has been stated that the invention contemplates a reflector of a unitary character; that is to sa'yythe' invention aims to provide a reflector which is of such construction that It maybe placed end to end with other simi lar reflectors, and when these units are thus aligned a substantlally continuousreflector is produced which maybe of varying lengths to accommodate the length of the particular cove or recesswherein the reflector is to be positioned. At the same time, it is desirable that the particular unit shall be of such size and formation that it will possess the necessary capacity for. use as an individual reflector, thus adapting the individual unit to the needs to which a reflector of this nature may be subjected. To this end, the

body 10 is 'ofsubstantially elongated form,

the ends thereof being cut square, as at 11. 'so that when brought into abutting relation with a contiguous reflector or unit the adjacent endswill fit against each other and permit proper aligning of the units.

At a point substantially midway. between the ends of the reflector the body 10 is rovided with a ridge 12, this ridge divi ing the end portions of the body intosections 13 and 14 of generallysimilar contour, and

at a point in said ridge 12 an opening 15 'is located for receiving a suitable fastening ridge are generally concave at their interior faces, and each of said sections has formed therein an enlarged opening 16, said opening being designed to receive an illuminating element such as electric lam The lower edge of each of the openings 16 has a depending flange 17 formed thereat, said flange being adapted toset within a socket for sustaining the body of the reflector in its position of use.

To provide for the eflectual diffusion of the light emanating from the illuminating units fitted in the openings 16 is also one of the objects of the present invention. As illustrated in Fig; 3, it willbe observed that the body 10 has a trough-like configuration, the back 18 being curved upwardly and rearwardly and substantially vertical, except as modified by the concave form of its interior, while the bottom 19 is curved up wardly and forwardly, the free edges of the back 18'and bottom 19 defining an opening through which the diffused light passes to the space to be illuminated.

In order that the light rays may be broken up in the most effective manner, and thus attain the highest degreeof'difi'usion of the light, the bottom 19 ofeach of the sections 13 and lhas formed therein substantially parallel corrugations '20,, which corruga- 'tions' radiate from the opening 16 of that section. These corrugations 20, therefore, entendforwardly and upwardly.

The back 18 of each fthe'se'ctions 13 and 14; likewise is provided with a plurality of substantially parallel corrugations 21, and these corrugations of each of said sections also radiate from the opening 16-of that section, but the corrugations 21 extend rearwardly' and upwardlyf There is thus pro vided in each section two independentgroups of corrugations, one of which extends forwardly front the opening 16, and {the otherrearwardly therefrom. VV'hile the corrugations 20 and 21 radiate from the opening 16, thecorrugations of each of these groups are substantially straight, considered from the standpoint of the transverse dimension of the body 10 of the reflector.

In-order that the light rays may bebroken up to a further extent, the cOrrugatiOns'QO are intersected by spiral corrugations 22,

and the corrugations 21 are also intersected bysimilar spiral corrugations 23,

By reason of the corrugations 20 and 21,

and the intersecting spiral corrugations 22 and 23, the interior of the reflector is of such construction that an even diffusion of the light follows, and the surface illuminated by the light reflected thereby is free from streaks and images which would result werethe interior; surface of the reflector plain.

In the use of the hereindescribed invention, one or more of the reflectors is or are placed in a cove in a cornice or other point of concealment of the walls of the space to be illuminated. The lighting units, therefore, are concealed, andthe illumination of the space is effected indirectly rather than directly, as would be the case were the units visible. The rays of light emanating from the lamps positioned in the opening 16 impinge against the back 18 and the bottom 19, but these incident rays are effectually broken up because of the corrugated surfaces with which they contact, so that the light projectedfrom they reflector, is highly diffused, and the-surfaces of the ceiling or wall in proximity to the reflector are freed entirely from images or streaks. Thus, the entire room in which the reflectors are placedbecomes illuminated with a soft indirect light, and there is no glare to offend the eyeof the observer, due to the effectual diffusion of the light from the illuminating units. 7

The invention is primarily intended for use with the construction of holder setforth inthe application of'Paul M. Hotchkin, filed but may be employed in other relations where concealed lighting units are utilized, and where a highlydifi'used light isdesired.

A reflector offtheclass.described, comprising a troughflike body having an open.-

ing formed therein for receiving a lighting element and includingran upwardly extending curved reflecting back anda forwardly extending curved reflecting bottom, the free edges ofsaid'back and said bottom defining an opening through which the light is projected, thefree edge of the bottom being in lower plane than the free. edge of the back whereby the light is roj cted forwardly vby the back and upwardly by-the t 2. reflector of the class described, corriprising a trough-like body having an opening formed therein for receiving a lighting element, said body including an upwardly extending reflecting back and a forwardly and upwardly extending bottom, the free edges of saidback and bottom defining an opening through which the light is projected, both the back and the bottom being each provided with independent groups of corrugations radiating from said opening in opposite directions each of .saidgroups of corrugations beingintersected by other roups 0 spiral corrugations, ,therehy breaking up light rays emanating from the lightingelement and for'diffusing the light projecting from "the reflector.

3. A reflector of itheclass described, comprising a trough-likebody having-a ridge at a pointintermediate its ends, whereby'to divide said body into aplurality of sections, the interior of each of said sections being August 29, 1%)21, Ser. No. 496,214,

substantially concave, said body being provided also with a plurality of openings, one of which is arranged at each side of said ridge, said body also including an upwardly extending reflecting back and a forwardly and upwardly extending reflecting bottom, the free edges of said back and bottom defining an opening through which the light is projected, both the back and the bottom being each provided with an independent group of corrugations radiating from each of the openings for receiving the lighting elements, and other groups of spiral corrugations intersecting the first mentioned corrugations, whereby to break up the light rays from the lighting elements and diffuse the light projected by the reflector.

4. A reflector of the classdescribed, com prising a trough-like body having an open ing formed therein for receiving a lighting element and including an upwardly and rearwardly extending curved reflecting back and a forwardly extending curved reflecting bottom, the free edges of said back and said bottom defining an opening through which the light is projected, the back having a group of corrugations radiating upwardly and rearwardly from said opening, and the bottom also having a group of corrugations radiating forwardly from said opening and in opposite direction to that of the corrugaand a forwardly extending curved reflecting bottom, the free edges of said back and said bottom defining an opening through which the light is projected, the back having a group of corrugations radiating upwardly andrearwardly from said opening, and the bottom also having a group of corrugations radiating forwardly from said opening and in opposite direction to that of the corrugations of the back, both the back and the bottom also being each provided with a group of spiral corrugations intersecting the first mentioned corrugations, whereby to 7 break up the light rays emanating from the lighting element and to diffuse the light projected from the reflector.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JERRY L. .STAIR. 

